Sofa sleeper with automatic section locking means



A. J. MIKOS March 31', 1970 SOFA SLEEPER WITH AUTOMATIC SECTION LOCKING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1968 SOFA SLEEPER WITH AUTOMATIC SECTION LOCKING MEANS Filed July 15, 1968 A. J. MIKOS March 31, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m mHrL NW QM m 1 WEE United States Patent O 3,503,081 SOFA SLEEPER WITH AUTOMATIC SECTION LOCKING MEANS Aloysius J. Mikos, Skokie, Ill., assignor to The Seng Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed July 15, 1968, Ser. No. 745,020 Int. Cl. A47c 17/13 U.S. Cl. 531 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Linkage means for a four-section sofa sleeper which automatically draws down and locks the outer bed section during movement of the bed from intermediate position to folded position, said linkage means including a short lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the hinge bed section, a locking link which is pivoted at one end to a link that folds the outer legs of the bed structure during movement from bed position to intermediate position and which has its other end pivoted to a first arm of the lever that is below the lever pivot in intermediate position, and a lost motion linkage between the other arm of the lever and a linkage which moves the bed sections between intermediate position and folded position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Any sofa sleeper which has multiple sections folding into a sofa frame must have some means for forcing the outer bed section down against the pressure of mattress and bedding which tends to keep it from assuming its proper folded position parallel to the inner bed section which is beneath it in folded position, and such means must also lock the outer bed section down in the folded position of the bed structure.

The outer bed section locking means of the present invention operates in a manner similar to that of the mechanism disclosed in my Patent 3,284,814. However, the present mechanism is simpler, stronger and less expensive than that of the above patent.

The device of Patent 3,284,814 utilizes a pair of bell crank levers which are pivoted on the intermediate legs of the folding bed structure. When the unit is in its intermediate position, a first arm of each bell crank extends upwardly alongside a hinge bed section, while a second arm of each bell crank extends rearwardly alongside an inner bed section. A locking link is pivoted at one end near the end of the second arm of each bell crank and at the other end to an actuating link for one of the outer legs of the folding bed structure, while a pulling link makes a pin and slot connection with a pin on the first arm of each bell crank and is connected with the supporting linkage by which the bed structure is moved in and out of the sofa frame. The pulling links rotate the bell cranks as the bed unit is moved from intermediate position to folded position, and this rotation pulls down upon the locking links which thus act through the outer leg operating links and the outer legs to pull down and lock the outer bed section.

Mounting a bell crank upon the intermediate leg causes it to be spaced a substantial distance outwardly from the bed frame, and in order to provide necessary operating clearances between the intermediate leg and the locking link it is necessary that the body of the bell crank be offset outwardly from its pivotal connection with the leg. The pulling stresses during folding of the bed structure tend to bend the bell crank inwardly to a position where the locking link may interefere with the folding of the intermediate leg, and accordingly it is necessary to provide the inner bed section with an outwardly projecting flange against which the locking link may ride in operation so as to keep it from deflecting inwardly enough to interfere with the folding of the intermediate leg.

The foregoing problems which are inherent in the section locking mechanism of my Patent 3,284,814 are all eliminated in the section locking mechanism of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a pair of short levers are pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the hinge bed section. The short levers are arranged to be parallel to the hinge bed section when the bed structure is folded into the sofa frame, and the lower end of each short lever is connected by a locking link with the operating link for one of the outer legs of the bed structure. A pulling link makes a pin and slot connection with the upper end of each lever and is connected to the supporting linkage for the sofa bed so that as the bed is moved from intermediate position to folded position the pulling link pulls rearwardly on the upper end of the short lever so as to cause forward movement of the lower end of said lever which acts through the locking link, the outer leg actuating link and the outer leg pull the outer bed section down and lock it. In bed position the short levers are generally upright, and as the outer section and the hinge section are folded to the intermediate position of the bed structure the short levers rotate approximately due to the action of the outer leg operating links and the locking links.

The short levers pivoted on the hinge bed section may be made with much less offset than is required for the bell cranks of Patent 3,284,814; and the pulling link and locking link may be so located that they do not interfere with folding of the intermediate leg under any circumstances, so there need be no flanges on the inner bed section. The short levers are much stronger and less subject to bending stresses under load than are the comparatively larger bell cranks used in the mechanism of 3,284,814. In addition, the short levers are less expensive to make than are the bell cranks.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved section locking means for the outer section of a sofa sleeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a locking means which is simpler, less expensive and stronger than section locking means heretofore known in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sofa sleeper embodying the invention, with the folding bed structure in extended bed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale illustrating the section locking mechanism in bed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken as indicated along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 illustrating the parts in the position which they occupy in the intermediate position of the bed structure with the outer bed section held up at an angle as by a typical mattress and bedding;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4 viewing the mechanism from the opposite side;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view taken substantially as indicated along the line 6'6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the position of the parts of the section locking mechanism when the sofa bed is approximately halfway folded into the sofa frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and referring first to FIG. 1, a davenport frame, indicated genorally at 10, has a front 11, a back 12, a pair of ends like the end 13, and an inclined supporting frame 14 for an upholstered back. A folding bed structure, indicated generally at 15, includes a pair of mounting brackets 16 which are secured to the sofa frame ends 13 and to the front rail 11, a rearward suspension linkage indicated generally at 17 and a forward suspension linkage indicated generally at 18. A folding bed structure, indicated generally at 19, includes a head bed section 20, an inner bed section 21 which is pivotally connected to the head bed section 20 at 22, a hinge bed section 23 which is pivotally connected to the inner bed section 21 at 2-4, and an outer or foot bed section 25 which is pivotally connected to the hinge section 23 at 26. The bed supporting linkage means consisting of the rearward linkage 17 and the forward linkage 18 is identical with that disclosed and claimed in my Patent 3,284,814, and since it forms no part of the present invention it is not described in detail herein. The linkage means 17 and 18 mounts the folding bed structure 19 for movement between the intermediate position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings, and a fully folded position (not shown) in which the bed structure is completely folded into the sofa frame as illustrated in FIG. 5 of my Patent 3,284,814.

Included in the folding bed structure 19 are intermediate supporting legs 27 which are mounted on the pivots 24, and links 28 which connect the intermediate legs 27 with the forward linkage means 18 so that as the bed structure is moved from the intermediate position of FIG. 4 or 5 to the folded position the action of the forward linkage means 18 pulls the links 28 rearwardly to swing the intermediate legs 27 through the position illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings to a fully folded position.

A pair of outer supporting legs 29 are pivoted on the sides of the outer bed section 25 at 30, and a pair of outer leg operating links 31 are pivotally connected to the outer legs 29 at 32 and to the hinge bed section 23 at 33 so that, as the bed structure is moved from the open position of FIG. 1 to the intermediate position of FIG. 4 or 5 a relative folding movement between the hinge section 23 and the outer section 25 acts through the links 31 to rotate the outer legs 29 to a folded position as seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

Also included in the folding bed structure are conventional bracing links 34 which are pivoted at 35 on the hinge section 23 and make a pin and slot connection at 36 with the inner bed section 21.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the folding bed structure is in the intermediate position the upward pressure of a folded mattress M and bedding (not shown) pivots the outer bed section 25 to an inclined position, either about the pivot 24 or about the pivot 26 or both; but in the folded position of the bed the outer bed section 25 must be parallel with the inner section 21 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The apparatus of the present invention consists of a linkage, indicated generally at 37, for pulling the outer bed section 25 downwardly to its fully folded position against the upward force of the mattress and bedding, and to lock it in its fully folded position.

In view of the fact that the section locking means 37 consists of two identical mechanisms at opposite sides of the folding bed, only one such mechanism is illustrated in the drawings and described herein. As best seen in FIGS. 2 to 7, the section locking means 37 includes a short lever 38 which is pivoted intermediate its end on the pivot 35 and has a first offset end portion 39' and a second offset end portion 40. A locking link 41 has one end pivotally connected at 42 to the first offset end portion 39 of the short lever 38, and has its other end pivotaliy connected at 43 to the outer leg operating link 31. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the bed structure is in its open position the short lever 38 occupies a generally upright position with its first offset end portion 39 uppermost; and as the hinge section 23 and the outer section 25 are pivoted to the intermediate position of FIGS. 4 and S the outer leg actuating link 31 and the locking link '41 cause the short lever 38 to pivot approximately to the position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which its first offset end portion 39 is below its pivotal connection 35 to the hinge bed section 23.

A pulling link 44 is pivoted at 45 on the actuating link 28 for the intermediate leg 27, and a longitudinal slot 46 in the outer end portion of the pulling link 44 receives a headed stud 47 on the second offset end portion 40 of the short lever 38 so as to provide a lost motion connection between the pulling link and the lever. As the bed structure is moved from the intermediate position of FIGS. 4 and 5 through the position of FIG. 7 to the fully folded position, the rearward movement of the link 28 draws the pulling link 44 rearwardly until the outer end 46 of the slot in the link engages the stud 47 so as to turn the short lever 38 about its pivot 35 from the position of FIGS. 4 and 5 to the position of FIG. 7. Rotation of the short lever 38 acts through the locking link 41, the outer leg actuating lever 31 and the leg 29 to draw the outer bed section 25 downwardly about the pivot 26 and lock it in the folded position of FIG. 7 where it is substantially parallel to the inner bed section 21.

As seen in FIG. 1, the forward linkage means 18 includes a bell crank lever 18a with which the intermediate link 28 is connected, and the bell crank lever rotates clockwise as seen in FIG. 1 when the bed structure is moved to its folded position in the sofa frame. During this movement the pivot 28a which connects the link 28 with the bell crank 18a travels in an are about the pivot 18!) by which the bell crank 18a is mounted on the inner bed section 21, so that during the first part of the movement from intermediate position to folded position the movement of the pivot 28a is principally parallel to the bed section 21, while in the last part of that folding movement the travel of the pivot 28a is principally perpendicular to the bed section 21. As a result, the pulling action of the pulling link 44 on the stud 47, and the corresponding rotary movement of the short lever 38, is substantially completed by the time the bed structure has reached the partially folded position of FIG. 7. This assures that the free end of the outer bed section 25 will clear the bottom of the upholstered back frame 14 as the folded bed sections complete their movement into the sofa frame 10.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a sofa sleeper of the type which includes a sofa frome having a back and a front, and folding bed means consisting of a plurality of pivotally connected bed sections including an inner section, a hinge section and an outer section, linkage means mounting said bed means for movement between a folded position within said sofa frame with the inner section horizontal at the bottom, the hinge section upright at the front, and the outer section generally parallel to the inner section, and an intermediate position in which said sections occupy substantially the same re ative positions but above and projecting forwardly from the sofa frame, there being a pair of intermediate supporting legs at the pivotal connection of said inner section and said hinge section and a pair of first links connecting said legs with said likage means for folding said legs as the bed means moves from intermediate position to folded position, and said hinge section and outer section being movable from said intermediate position to an open bed position in which they are coplanar with the inner section, there being a pair of outer supporting legs near the free end of the outer section and a pair of second links connecting said legs with opposite sides of the hinge section for folding said legs during movement of said hinge section and outer section from bed position to intermediate position, section locking means for automatically drawing said outer section down and locking it in its folded position during movement of the bed means from intermediate position to folded position, said section locking means comprising, in combination:

a pair of short levers each of which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on one side of the hinge bed section;

a pair of locking links each of which is pivotally connected at one end to a first end of one of said levers and at the other end to one of the second links, said levers having said first ends below their pivotal mountings in intermediate position; and

a pair of pulling link means each of which provides a lost motion linkage to the second end of one of said levers, said pulling link means being arranged to rotate said levers, during movement of the bed into folded position, said rotation of said levers acting through said locking links, said second links and said outer legs to draw the outer bed section downwardly and lock it in folded position.

2. The section locking means of claim 1 in which the short levers are generally upright in bed position with their first ends uppermost, said levers being rotated approximately 180 by the movement of the second links and the locking links as the bed sections move from bed position to intermediate position.

3. The section locking means of claim 2 in which the pivotal connection between the short lever and the locking link is substantially coaxial with the connection between the inner bed section and the hinge section when the outer section is locked in folded position.

4. The section locking means of claim 1 in which the pivotal connection between the short lever and the locking link is substantially coaxial with the connection between the inner bed section and the hinge section when the outer section is locked in folded position.

5. The section locking means of claim 1 in which each of the pulling link means comprises a link having a longitudinal slot which makes a sliding connection with a stud on one of the levers.

6. The section locking means of claim 1 in which each pulling link means comprises a pulling link which is connected at one end to the second end of one of the levers and at the other end to one of the first links, there being a pin and slot connection at one end of each of said pulling links.

7. The section locking means of claim 6 in which each of the pulling links has a longitudinal slot which makes a sliding connection with a stud on one of the levers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,024,473 3/1962 Bebry et a1 5-13 3,209,377 10/1965 Fox 531 X 3,284,814 11/1966 Mikos 53l 3,380,083 4/1968 Mikos 531 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

